Quote:
Amongst the many emails printed in Nicky Hager's book The Hollow Men, whose authenticity National has never denied, is correspondence linking Key, former leader Don Brash, and Kirk to many meetings with wealthy New Zealanders who had expressed an interest in giving National money.
Such as this one from former Business Roundtable chairman Rob McLeod to Key and Brash, concerning the wealthy Spencer family:
"Berridge and Mertsi Spencer have been talking with me about the possibility of increasing their financial contribution to your election campaign. They are also very keen to meet John after hearing about him from you. I was therefore wondering whether it might be possible for the three of us to have dinner with the two of you at some stage in the near future at their residence at Clifton Road in Takapuna? You guys are doing great, keep it up.''
Key relied:
"Sure, love to do that. I will speak to Don and see if we can get a date that suits all of us."
Hager details many such meetings in the book between Key and potential donors, during which Hager says Brash and Key worked as a team. "Until the diary got too full in the last weeks of the campaign, collecting the money was always a priority,'' Hager wrote.
Winston Peters commented to the SST about last week's revelations:
Quote:
"This environment is one that has gone on with significant complicity from many western governments". He said politicians were complicit in the illegal behaviour by allowing it to continue. Peters said the current government was one which was happy to "beat up on beneficiary fraudsters, but won't tackle white collar fraud".